The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), a new venture that aims to provide a sustainable and equitable platform for the best female players in the world, has revealed its inaugural six franchises on Tuesday. The teams will be based in three U.S. and three Canadian cities, all of which have strong NHL markets and a history of supporting women’s hockey.
PWHL: A Dream Come True for Women’s Hockey Players
The PWHL was founded in July 2023 by Mark Walter, the co-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who acquired the assets of the former Premier Hockey Federation (PHF), the only professional women’s hockey league in North America at the time. Walter’s investment was welcomed by the members of the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association (PWHPA), a group of elite players who boycotted the PHF in 2019, demanding better wages, benefits, and resources for their sport.
The PWHPA, which included stars like Hilary Knight, Marie-Philip Poulin, and Kendall Coyne Schofield, organized a series of exhibition games and tournaments across North America and Europe, showcasing their talent and advocating for a more viable league. Their efforts paid off when Walter approached them with his vision of creating a league that would meet their standards and expectations.
Jayna Hefford, the former chief consultant of the PWHPA and a four-time Olympic gold medalist, joined the PWHL as the senior vice president of hockey operations. She said that the new league is a dream come true for women’s hockey players who have been fighting for recognition and respect for decades.
“The demand is there, the excitement is there, the willingness for people to really embrace what we’re doing. I don’t think there’s ever been a better time,” Hefford said.
PWHL: The Original Six Franchises
The PWHL announced its original six franchises on Tuesday, following the tradition of the NHL, which had six teams from 1942 to 1967. The teams are:
- Boston
- New York City’s tri-state area
- Minneapolis-St. Paul
- Toronto
- Montreal
- Ottawa
The teams will be named and branded in the coming weeks, with input from the players and the fans. The teams will also hire general managers, coaches, and support staffs, as well as select their rosters through a 15-round draft on Sept. 18.
The PWHL chose these six cities because they have established fan bases for hockey and have hosted successful events for women’s hockey in the past. For example, Boston hosted the 2016 Women’s World Championship, New York City hosted the 2020 NHL All-Star Skills Competition featuring women’s players, Minneapolis-St. Paul hosted the 2021 PHF Isobel Cup Final, Toronto hosted the 2017 Four Nations Cup, Montreal hosted the 2013 Women’s World Championship, and Ottawa hosted the 2017 Women’s World Championship.
The PWHL also plans to expand to other markets in the future, including Los Angeles, where Walter is based.
PWHL: A Long-Term Vision for Women’s Hockey
The PWHL is not only focused on launching its first season in January 2024, but also on building a long-term vision for women’s hockey that will ensure its growth and stability. Stan Kasten, a member of the PWHL board of directors and the president of the Los Angeles Dodgers, said that Walter is committed to investing in the league for years to come.
“We didn’t do this for the short term. We didn’t do it for the long term. We did it for it to be permanent. We have plans,” Kasten said. “We understand this is going to be expensive, particularly in the early years. But we’re prepared for that and we think of all those amounts of money not as being expenses or losses. We think of them as investments in what we are building.”
The PWHL has already secured partnerships with several NHL teams, including the Boston Bruins, New York Rangers, Minnesota Wild, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, and Ottawa Senators. The league also hopes to collaborate with other professional sports leagues, such as the WNBA and NWSL, to promote women’s sports and empower female athletes.
The PWHL also intends to create a positive impact on the community by engaging with young girls and boys who aspire to play hockey and providing them with role models and mentors.
“We want to inspire the next generation of hockey players,” Hefford said. “We want to make sure that every little girl who picks up a stick has a dream and has a place to play.”
